Update- Remarkable Trees of Virginia Project

Virginia Tech Forestry Professor and 4-H Extension Specialist, Dr. Jeff Kirwan, would like to visit schools, libraries and other public venues for the purpose of promoting the Remarkable Trees of Virginia Project, which seeks to engage a new generation of Virginians with recognizing, enjoying and protecting our Commonwealth's most significant trees. Along with co-author Nancy Ross Hugo and fine-art photographer Robert Llewellyn, the team has documented over 1,000 trees that were nominated by citizens and is celebrated in a fine art book distributed by University of Virginia Press.

Dr. Kirwan will show pictures of trees to illustrate how old trees get, how big, and those that were living during important events in American History, including Jamestown, French and Indian War, Civil War, even the beginnings of NASCAR. He will talk about trees that are culturally important to American Indians and African Americans. He will describe the economic and social benefits of trees, and challenge students to improve their world with trees. His presentation mixes science, history, literature, and beautiful photographs to capture the imaginations and minds of youth grades 3 and up.


Sample press release and promotional photos

Sample itinerary

Featured Trees by County

Featured Trees by Chapter

Upcoming events


January 10 Roanoke Project Learning Tree

January 24 Blacksburg Hahn Horticulture Garden Project Learning Tree

January 30-31 4-H Natural Resources Weekend, Holiday Lake 4-H Center

Feb. 2 Virginia Association of Forest Health Professionals, Staunton. Contact: Chris Anderson, Page County Environmental Coordinator, (540) 743-4808, canderson@pagecounty.virginia.gov.

Feb. 12 D.J. Montague Elementary, James City County

Feb. 13 Jewish Community Center pre-school, Richmond

Feb. 13 Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond

March 3 Keister Elementary, Harrisonburg

March 19 Pleasant View Elementary School, Amherst.

March 19 Charlottesville, Festival of the Book, Ballyshannon Forum, PVCC, 7PM

March 21 Culpeper County Library, 2 PM, contact: Niki Staunton, 540-547-2813; nstaunton@earthlink.net

April 2-3 Hampton (Contact Debbie Blanton, Clean city Commission, 727-1130; hccc@hampton.gov)
  • April 2, Sandy Bottom Nature Center, 4 - 6 PM

April 4 Arbor Day at Byrd Park, Richmond, 10 AM until 2 PM, with talk at Noon. Contact Louise C. Seals, Tree Steward, 804-355-4523, 804-389-8798 (c), louise.seals@gmail.com.

April 16 - 18 Fairfax County
April 16
  • Kings Glen Elementary, Springfield. Contact: Sam Elson, Principal, 703-239-4000, Sam.Elson@fcps.edu
  • Congressional Schools, Pinecrest and Montessori Schools, Falls Church, 703-533-9711
  • Clifton Elementary Contact Arthur Polton, Principal, 703-988-8000 or 988-8907.
  • Audubon Society of Northern Virginia meeting, Congressional Schools, 7 - 9 PM, contact Stacey Evers, stacey.evers@cox.net.
April 17
  • Lake Anne Elementary, Reston. Contact Ms. Hajj, 703-326-3500
  • Spring Hill Elementary, McLean. Contact Alicine Bauer, Vice-Principal, 703-506-3400
  • Bull Run Elementary, Centreville. Contact Ms. Jodi Heins, 703-227-1400
April 18
  • American Horticultural Society, Alexandria, 10 AM, contact James Gagliardi, jgagliardi@ahs.org, (703) 768-5700 ext. 115, followed by tree tour to Lake Braddock District.

April 23-25 Virginia Beach area
  • April 23 Little Creek Elementary School, contact April Robinson, arobinson65@cox.net
  • April 23 Virginia Native Plant Society, 7 PM, Norflok Botanical Gardens, contact Brenda Huff, bhuff@cox.net
  • April 24 Virginia Beach Regional Master Gardeners meeting, Virginia Beach, Central Library

April 28, Abingdon, VA

May 8, Blandy Farm (State Arboretum) Clarke County, 10 AM, contact Steve Carroll, 540-837-1758 ext. 287, scarroll@virginia.edu

May 28, Bath County Garden Club, 11:15 am to Noon, The Homestead, contact Kay Alexander, kka@tds.net) followed by presentations to area schools

May 29, Highland County schools (proposed)

June 18, Holiday Lake Forestry Camp, Buckingham/Appomattox State Forest

June 12-13 Galax, String and Leaf Festival

June 23, Historical Society of Western Virginia, Roanoke, 7:30 PM,. Christ Lutheran Church, Grandin Rd. & Brandon Ave. Contact: georgekegley@verizon.net

July 27, Matthews State Forest, Grayson County. 6 PM. Contact: zachary.olinger@dof.virginia.gov or 276.236.2322.

September 15 - 17 Richmond and Northern Neck area

  • September 16 - Science Museum of Virginia, ODATC meeting starts at 7, tree presentation at 7:30 PM. Contact: Michele.Calandra@AllenandAllen.com
  • September 17- Three Rivers Environmental Educators, Northumberland Public Library, Heathsville, 12 - 2:30 PM, contact Julie Tritz, Extension Agent, 804-462-5780

September 26, Roanoke Native Plant Society Tree Tour (proposed)

October 15 - 16 Fairfax County (proposed)

October 20, Southwestern Piedmont Virginia Master Naturalists, Martinsville. Contact Larry Turner, ltct59@comcast.net.

Previous events



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